Arm restrainer



1961 R. H. SMITH 0,4

ARM RESTRAINER Filed March 9, 1960 INVENTOR Robert H. Sm/f/I BYwafi-Emgom ATTORNEY United States Patent Oflice 3,01%,452 Patented Nov.28, 1961 3,010,452 ARM RESTRAINER Robert H. Smith, Box 289, Valparaiso,Fla. Filed Mar. 9, 1969, Ser. No. 13,896 2 Claims. (Cl. 128-133) Thisinvention relates to new and useful improvements in arm restrainingdevices, the device herein described being particularly applicable forthe preclusion of contact, inadvertent or otherwise, between the hand ofan infant and the facial and head areas thereof. More specifically, thepresent invention has exhibited immeasurable value during post-operationperiods, in cases involving children afflicted with a congenital defectof the palate, known as a cleft palate, in which a longitudinal fissurehad existed in the roof of the mouth.

The palate, having been corrected through surgery, requires time toheal, and it is of the utmost importance that this period be withoutinterference and/or contamination from foreign bodies, including theinfants hands. To that end the instant invention, in view of itsstructural characteristics to be described, accomplishes severaldesirable objects and advantages, among which are included thefollowing.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a tubular armrestraining device, in the nature of a surgical splint, comprised of apair of semi-cylindrical members hingedly connected to one another in amanner adapted to urge said semi-cylindrical members toward theformation of a unitary cylinder with means for adjustably securing saidmembers in a position to embrace or encircle the elbow region of thearm.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an arm restrainingdevice whereby minimum contiguity between the arm and the device isachieved through the employment of raised-end-inside peripheral areascomposed of soft cushioning material fashioned to gently envelop the armwithout chafing the minimal areas of contact.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a splint-likedevice wherein each of the said raised-endinside peripheral areas isangularly fluted or furrowed in directions counter to one another, thedepressions formed by said fluting functioning to provide aircirculation between the spaced area between the inside cylinder wall,the elbow region, the surrounding regions of the arm and the ambientsurrounding atmosphere.

A still further object of the instant invention is the provision of anon-slip relationship between the arm restraining device and the armareas in contiguous relation therewith, said non-slip relationship beingeifeotuated through the respective counter angular fluting arrangementof the raised-end-inside peripheral areas described in the detailedportion of the specification set forth below.

Another object is to provide a device of this character of simple andpractical construction, which is eflicient and reliable in use,relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for thepurposes for which the same is intended.

In accordance with the invention, the foregoing objects are accomplishedby the construction of and utilization of the device as more fullyhereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer tolike parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the arm restraining device shown asapplied to the arm of an infant;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the device;

FIGURE 3 is an end View; and,

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE3.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a device adaptedto embrace the upper limbs of the human body as represented in FIGURE 1of the drawings. As heretofore indicated, the device, once positioned onthe arm as shown, will serve to sufiiciently prevent move ment at thejoint or elbow, thereby interposing positive interference with thenatural bending of the arm and thus preclude the placement, by theinfant, of its fingers within its mouth or otherwise near the region ofits head.

The configuration of the body of the present device is, according toFIGURE 2 of the drawings, is shown to be tubular or sleeve like, thedevice being designated generally as numeral 1. The tube or cylinder sodesignated is comprised of symmetrical halves or semi-cylinders 2 and 3molded or extruded of polyethylene, polystyrene or other suitablematerial dimensionalized and having a wall thickness.

Semi-cylinders 2 and 3 are hingedly connected at their respective edges,20 and 25, by means of spring loaded members 5 and 6, said springmembers being adapted to flexibly connect said halves at their saidrespective edges and to further serve to constantly urge said halvestoward the normal formation of open ended cylinder 1. Upon viewing thedrawings, it will become apparent that an adult can readily apply orremove the device to or from an infants arm by merely separating theunhinged edges 22 and 24- of the cylinders by overcoming the forceimposed by spring hinges 5 and 6. Once opened, the device is placed overand around the elbow region and permitted to return to its normalcylindrical configuration. Ratchet-clasp members 12 and 13 located alongthe said unhinged edges 24 and 22 of said semi-cylinders 3 and 2respectively, provide adjustable closure means in addition to thecontinued closing force imposed by the spring loaded hinges. While it isunderstood that other closure means, e.g., snaps, buckles, hooks, etc.,could be adapted to the instant invention, the ratchet-clasp arrangementillustrated in the drawings is preferred in view of the practicalsimplicity thereof.

In addition to the eflective closure action of both spring hinges 5 and6 and ratchet-clasp closure means 12 and 13, raised-end-insideperipheral areas 7 and 8 furnish a third feature primarily intended as apreventive against slip or movement of the arm restraining device oncesaid device is positioned according to this invention.

FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings indicate the proportionate thickness ofsaid raised inside areas, FIGURE 2 being particularly illustrative ofthe parallel-angular crests and troughs comprising the flutedconfiguration thereof.

FIGURE 4, while also representative of the aforesaid parallel-angularconfiguration of the raised areas, is particularly demonstrative of therespective counter angular alignment of the parallel flutes ordepressions comprising each respective raised area. To that end it willbe noted that according to FIGURE 4, the slope of the angular alignmentof the parallel flutes of raised-end-inside area 8 is positive withrespect to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body 1, While theslope of the angular alignment of the parallel flutes ofraised-end-inside area 7 is negative with respect to said longitudinalaxis. The significance thereof can be compared to an oppositely threadedpair of lock-nuts the purpose of which is to prevent loosening due to atwisting movement imparted to one or both of said nuts. Theaforedescribed counter angular fluted areas situated at each end of thecylindrical body, function as the counter threaded nuts in the aboveanalogy, that is, to preclude slip or movement about or along theinfants arm once the device is applied thereto.

Raised-endinside peripheral areas 7 and 8 are preferably composed ofsoft, shape-retentive compositions, rubber 11, being the most applicablein view of its protective attritionless qualities. Utilization of ashape-retentive material is of obvious importance considering thefunction 3 thereof; which is to provide a continual tread-on-skin effectas a guard against slippage. Of further importance concerning theshape-retentive quality is the ventilating function of the flutedstructure of the raised inside areas.

In the usual arm restraining or splint-like devices heretofore used,slats, straps,'casts, bands and/or tape, singly or in combination, wereemployed. In addition to the cumbersome and bothersome diflicultiesexperienced through the use of such devices, chafing, itching andgeneral annoyance often resulted for Want of air circulation around thearm. While holes 4 provide limited ventilation, the efi'ect of saidholes in cooperation with the air channels formed within troughs 10 ofsaid areas 7 and 8 is to accomplish free air flow about the restrainedarm but for minimal regions necessitated along crests 9 of said'areas 7and 8. Air circulation occasioned by the instant construction isespecially desirable in warm, humid climates particularly conducive tochafing and skin irritation.

While the post-operation period in the case of a cleft palate was citedherein as a situation demanding utilization of the arm restrainingdevice disclosed herein, the myriad applications of this device arereadily apparent, childhood pox diseases being merely one other obvioussituation requiring restraint against hand and facial contact.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the invention have beenaccomplished both fully and effectively by the novel arm restrainingdevice. It will also be realized that although specific embodiments ofthe invention have been described and illustrated, various changestherein will occur to one skilled in the art, all modifications whichare encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An arm restraining device comprised of first and secondsemi-cylindrical shell members, said first semicylindrical shell memberbeing spring biased with respect to said second semi-cylindrical shellmember, said semicylindrical shell members being continually urgedtoward the formation of a cylindrical body member having a longitudinalcircular passage therethrough, said longitudinal circular passage beingsubstantially uniform in crosssection, said passage being constricted byperipheral shoulder areas dis-posed adjacent the ends of saidcylindrical body and disposed inwardly thereof, said shoulder areashaving parallel angular fiutes provided in the inwardly disposedsurfaces thereof, the said parallel angular fiuting of one end adjacentperipheral shoulder area being the mirror image of the other of said endadjacent peripheral shoulder areas.

2. An arm restraining device comprised of first and secondsemi-cylindrical shell members, said first semicylindrical shell memberbeing spring biased with respect to said second semi-cylindrical shellmember, said semicylindrical shell members being continually urgedtoward the formation of a cylindrical body member having a longitudinalcircular passage therethrough, said longitudinal circular passage beingsubstantially uniform in cross-section, said passage being constrictedby peripheral shoulder areas disposed adjacent the ends of saidcylindrical body and disposed inwardly thereof, said shoulder areashaving parallel angular flutes provided in the inwardly disposedsurfaces thereof, the said parallel angular fiuting of one end adjacentperipheral shoulder area being the mirror image of the other of said endadjacent peripheral shoulder areas, and a plurality of orifices beingspacedly arranged in the surface of said cylindrical body member, saidorifices and said parallel angular flutes providing ventila tiontherebetween.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS713,239 Peterson Nov. 11, 1902 1,488,978 Faris Apr. 1, 1924 1,623,125Levine Apr. 5, 1927 1,638,601 Stanciu Aug. 9, 1927 1,815,530 Stone July21, 1931 2,271,580 Abell Feb. 3, 1942 2,679,842 Y Brill June 1, 19542,704,069 Donel-an Mar. 15, 1955 2,943,859 Koski et al July 5, 1960 ..c.L mp

